1/6/24: Hard Truth: The New Year Doesn't Need to be a New You

The argument for not having resolutions

Jan 06, 2025

Hard Truth:

Did you click the title and are like “what the what?”. Let me explain.

First, this is not me boo-hooing New Years resolutions or yearly goals. Those can be great if you’re in a space where they feed you and serve you. This post is for the people out there who are struggling. Who are burnt out. Who are me.

Every year (and honestly I get a dose of this at the beginning of the school year too) I think “this is the day I’ll start being me.” Spoiler alert: I’m just the same old person I was the year before.

In the past, I’ve had goals before that I’ve succeeded with and others I didn’t. Sometimes I set lofty goals (often around fitness and body image), while others were fun goals (travel and books read). But most of what I’ve found is that if the goal jives with where I’m at in my life, the more likely I am to succeed.

And this year folks, I ain’t doin’ shit.

woman sitting on cliff raising both hands — Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash

I debated doing a “No Buy New” year, which I did in 2020. It was a great re-set to my spending and 2020 was the best year to not buy anything new! I wanted to challenge myself again. But honestly, every day is a challenge right now (not with my mental health— just with my mental load). Taking on one more thing like cooking at home more, healthy meals, losing weight, being more enviromentally friendly relies on the woman doing most of the heavy lifting. And I’m tired. I have lifted enough. I have a lot of lifting yet to do.

So this year I’m not setting a goal. I’m not making resolutions. I’m burnt out going into the year, I don’t need to add layers of stress that will weaken my already fraught emotional state. I’m not adding another burden to my joy.

So the hard truth here is that you don’t have to set the goal because it’s the New Year. You can keep on, keepin’ on. Sometimes that’s the best thing you can do for yourself.

News/Links:

I’m in deep with Wicked. Like won’t stop talking about it, thinking about it, singing it. So it’s nice that there is a wealth of articles that me keep thinking and having imaginary conversations about it.

Still recovering from the end of an era. Long live, we’re on our own kids.

Absolutely loving this podcast from one of my favorite Instagram Personalities (who got me through a lot of COVID) and qualified health professional.

Authors, are you looking for editors? Check some out I compiled on my blog.